Benefits of Dental Implants

Tooth loss can have devastating effects on your oral health, your appearance, and your overall quality of life. To regain both the functions and aesthetics of your mouth, replacing your teeth is important. At Gregory A. Williams, DMD, PC, we offer dental implants as a way to give you back your life. While a fairly recent addition to the options available for tooth replacement, these small titanium rods that anchor ceramic crowns in place provide you with a multitude of benefits.

Better Eating

Your teeth do more than just help you bite and chew your food. They are a crucial element in the first stage of digestion. When you chew, you break down the foods you eat. Thoroughly breaking down your food allows your body to more easily access and absorb valuable nutrients. When you lose your teeth, your ability to completely chew your food is compromised.

When you cannot completely break down your food, your body has a harder time digesting it, which can then ultimately lead to malnutrition. With dental implants, the ability to completely break down your food is restored. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about your replacement teeth slipping out of place because they are held securely to the implants with screws.

Improved Speech

Your teeth are also a crucial component of proper speech. They control the flow of air, as well as provide a surface for your tongue to touch. Both of these functions allow you to form certain sounds and words. Without your teeth, air flows freely, which can lead to a lisp. The more teeth you lose, the more your speech is affected, making it increasingly more difficult for others to understand you. Dental implants help restore your speech to normal, and there is no need to worry about the adjustment period associated with dentures.

Greater Comfort

Dentures have been a solution for tooth loss for many decades. Over the years, there have been numerous improvements, allowing them to look more natural and function better. Even today, however, a common complaint is that they are uncomfortable. Dentures, which rest directly on your gums, restrict blood flow. They can come loose in your mouth. They can even rub your gums, which can lead to painful denture sores.

Dental implants help you to avoid the discomfort associated with traditional dentures. Instead of resting on your gums, your replacement teeth are supported by the implants inserted into your jawbone. Moreover, because they are secured in place by screws, there is no worrying about them sliding out of position and irritating sensitive tissues.

A Permanent Solution to Tooth Loss

Another major issue with traditional dentures is that they still need to be removed every night for cleaning, and need to be left out to soak so that your gums can get a break. This care routine can become arduous for many. Dental implants are fixed permanently in place. Moreover, they can be cared for just like the rest of your natural teeth.

Keeping your Jawbone Strong and Healthy

When you lose your teeth, your jawbone begins to weaken. This happens because there is no more stimulation of the jawbone, so fewer nutrients are sent. Eventually, your jawbone begins to change shape, causing your adjacent teeth to shift and your appearance to become more sunken and old. Most forms of tooth replacement cannot mimic the stimulation provided by the roots of the natural teeth. As a result, the jaw still weakens despite replacing the teeth. Over time, it then becomes necessary to replace your prosthetic teeth. Dental implants are the only replacement option available that can stimulate the jawbone, due to the titanium rods being inserted into the bone. As a result, implants put a stop to the bone loss that normally accompanies tooth loss.

Schedule your consultation today

If you have experienced tooth loss, you may be a candidate for dental implants. Contact Gregory A. Williams, DMD, PC at 503-620-2020 for more information and to schedule your consultation today.